By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
WINTERVILLE — Hayley Stowe was a solid shortstop for the Washington Pam Pack softball team last year. This year, the sophomore decided to give soccer a try.
Is coach Jimmy Kozuch ever glad she did.
Stowe powered home three goals Wednesday to help lead the Pam Pack (4-1, 2-0) to a 5-0 win over the South Central Falcons in Coastal Conference play. That gives Stowe eight goals on the young season.
Stowe and the rest of the Pam Pack spent the majority of the first half in offensive attack mode. While South Central goalie Crystal Rouse was able to turn back some shots, the Washington offense had too many weapons for her and the Falcon defense.
Stowe gave the Pack a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game. On a play set up by Blakelee Wolfe, Stowe gathered the ball and used her left foot to smack it past the goalie and into the left corner of the goal.
Prescott notched her team-leading ninth goal of the year a couple minutes later. The senior, who will play at Lees-McRae next year, used some nifty moves to split two defenders. Prescott got free and rocketed the ball with her right foot into the back of the net.
Just over a minute later, Stowe scored again. The sophomore gathered the ball after a pass from Xenia Adonts and pushed it past Rouse for a 3-0 advantage.
The Pack tacked on another goal with 10 minutes left in the half to take a 4-0 lead. Beth Batchelor came up with the ball after a mad scramble in front of the net and pushed it home, giving the freshman her fifth tally of the year.
It stayed that way until late in the second half. Stowe collected a pass from Prescott and belted it in to cap the scoring, and give the sophomore sensation the hat trick.
South Central’s best opportunity at scoring came on a direct kick, but Pam Pack goalie Ashley Crompton snuffed it out.
Kozuch was happy to see his team go to 2-0 in conference play. He was also pleased to see improvement overall from his team.
Kozuch was able to substitute freely in the second half.
Washington plays host to Edenton at 6 p.m. today. The Pack beat the Aces earlier in the year, but the use of an ineligible player forced Washington to forfeit the game.